The Atlas · Moon

Moon

The moon is one of the most widely-used images in girls' naming, and the roots repeat across whole language families.

229 names · 54 traditions

The same root, across a whole language family

These are attested shared morphemes — not coincidences of spelling. Where we are not confident a root is shared, we say nothing and simply list the names.

ay-
moon (Turkic)
Turkish, Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uzbek
Aiaru, Aidai, Aiganym, Aigerim, Aigul, Aikorkem, Ainagul, Ainura
mah-
moon (Persian)
Persian, Urdu
Maham, Mahasti, Mahdis, Mahi, Mahjabeen, Mahnaz, Mahnoor, Mahrokh
candra-
moon (Sanskrit)
Sanskrit, Hindi
Candra, Candrakala, Chandra, Chandrabhaga, Chandrahasi, Chandrakala, Chandrakanti, Chandralekha
nila-
moon (Tamil)
Tamil
Ilanila, Nila, Nilaa, Nilavarasi, Nilavoli, Vennila

Every tradition, side by side

Sanskrit 57
Aadhira Anumati Ashwini Candra Candrakala Candrikamayi Chakori Chandni Chandra Chandrabhaga Chandrahasi Chandrakala Chandrakanti Chandralekha Chandramukhi Chandrangi Chandravali Chandrika Chaturdashi Hemachandrini Indu Indubala Induja Indukala Indukanti Indulekha Induma Indumathi Indumati Induprabha Indushri Jyotshna Jyotsna Jyotsnamayi Jyotsnika Kairavi Kaumudi Nagachandra Nakshatra Nakshatrapati Parvani Poonam Poornimamayi Purnima Rishima Saumya Sharadindu Shashi Shashikala Shashikalamayi Shashilekha Shashiprabha Somika Soumya Tharindi Vadana Vishakha
Turkish 23
Aybuke Aycan Ayfer Aylah Aylin Aysenur Aysima Aysun Ayça Dilay Dilaynur Gulay Hilal Ilaydanur Ilaynur Ilkay Mehtap Mihrimah Miray Miraysu Selay Simay Tulay
Other 18
Ainur Aitalina Aiym Aizada Ayda Aysel Aysulu Aytac Aytalina Bil Coyolxauhqui Gunay Hang Jaci Mahin Phaxsi Poornima Tsukiko
Kazakh 12
Aiaru Aiganym Aigerim Aigul Aikorkem Ainagul Aisana Aisulu Aizere Aizhan Ayagoz Nurai
Greek 12
Callisto Celina Cybill Europa Jocasta Menodora Neoma Salena Selena Selene Selina Thalassa
Persian 11
Chand Bibi Mahasti Mahdis Mahi Mahnaz Mahnoor Mahrokh Mahsa Mahsty Mahta Mahtab
Tamil 8
Ilamathi Ilanila Nila Nilaa Nilavarasi Nilavoli Vaanmathi Vennila
Kyrgyz 7
Aidai Ainura Aiperi Aisuluu Altynai Begimai Nuraiym
Azerbaijani 5
Aybike Aygun Aynur Aysu Aytan
Japanese 5
Daki Haruka Mitsuki Mizuki Usagi
Indonesian 4
Bulan Purnama Rembulan Wulan
Urdu 4
Maham Mahjabeen Mahrukh Mehwish
Thai 3
Chan Pensri Sasithorn
Khmer 3
Channary Chantrea Chenda
Arabic 3
Hala Mayar Qamra
Quechua 3
Killa Killari Quilla
Hawaiian 3
Konane Mahealani Mahina
Latin 3
Luna Lunabelle Lunah
Chinese 3
Yue Yueling Yueying
Uyghur 2
Aygul Aynisa
Italian 2
Delia Dianora
Hebrew 2
Hodesh Levana
Nahuatl 2
Metztli Meztli
Burmese 2
Sandar Thandar
Pashto 2
Spogmai Spozhmai
Berber 2
Thiziri Tiziri
Tuvan 1
Aikys
Abkhaz 1
Aisa
Inuit 1
Anyu
Tatar 1
Aygol
Nogai 1
Aysuluv
Tibetan 1
Dawa
Lao 1
Duangchan
Filipino 1
Haliya
Hmong 1
Hli
Georgian 1
Iamze
Mayan 1
Ixchel
Swahili 1
Kamaria
Finnish 1
Kuutar
French 1
Louna
Armenian 1
Lusine
Turkmen 1
Mahri
Maori 1
Marama
Romanian 1
Minodora
Korean 1
Moonbyul
Vietnamese 1
Nguyet
Sumerian 1
Ningal
Javanese 1
Ratih
Sinhala 1
Sanduni
Mongolian 1
Sarangerel
Samoan 1
Sina
Telugu 1
Vennela
Malagasy 1
Volana
Guarani 1
Yasy
More ideas in the Atlas: Light · Star · Sun · Dawn · Flower · Rose · Peace · Courage · Gift · Sea · Love · Wisdom · Joy · Life · Hope · Faith · Strength · Grace · Birds · River · Mountain · Gold · Pearl · Night · Fire · Nobility · Victory · Garden · Rain · Snow · Spring · Truth · Freedom · Song · Sky